The Chocolate Magic Cozy Mystery Box Set Books 1 to 7 Read online

  “Pecan and marzipan,” she called after him, and he gave her a thumbs-up sign. There was a short space of time when the chocolate makers worked happily while Rula served the customers. Josh came in and started to help as well, and it looked as if normality had returned. Magda was telling Katie that she would pay for the stolen pictures and buy some new ones because the insurance would cover the cost.

  “Can you bring some tomorrow?” she asked, and before Katie could reply, she heard Sam shout from outside. She and Rula both dropped what they were doing and ran to see what was wrong.

  One of the women climbers was on the ground and dusting herself down and a second one was struggling to regain her foothold. Mikey climbed up and lent a hand. The other two girls were at the top.

  “What happened?” Magda asked.

  “That rotten Utric,” Sam told her quietly. “The wind that swept up was so strong that this lady, Karla, had to jump for it and her friend was left scrambling to stay put.”

  The three women who had reached the top of the wall came down on the side ropes and asked if there were freak winds all the time.

  Mikey shook his head and said that it had never happened before.

  “I’ll give it another go,” Karla told him. She was a good climber and said that she felt fine. She tied her long, blonde hair back out of the way and took hold of the first places to start the climb.

  “I’ll start farther along,” her friend Jeanette added, and they went toward the rock face. Jeanette had a woolen hat pulled over her curly hair. The others watched. Josh came around the corner and stood beside Magda. She looked at him with a question in her eyes, and he told her quietly that he could feel Utric and he knew he was upset.

  “Sad, upset, unhappy. I can’t tell why.” Sam heard what was said as well, and they looked at Karla who was a good climber and now near the top of the wall. Her friend was to one side and ahead of her. Josh put his hand on his head and closed his eyes. The others felt the wind begin to swirl. It was gentle at first and then suddenly hit the wall with quite a force. Jeanette threw herself onto the top of the wall and lay down to reach a hand down for Karla.

  There was nothing the girl could do but hang on to the fingerholds that she had found and lean in against the face of the rock as she would do in any storm. Mikey swarmed up the wall in a matter of seconds and hooked a rope onto her belt. He threw the other end up to Jeanette and braced his body to hold the client in place. The wind subsided as quickly as it had arisen and Karla slid down the ropes at the side.

  “What the hell happened there?” she demanded as her friend gave her a hug and said they should go and get a drink. Karla shook her head and looked at Mikey. “This is not like you. Tell me what happened. It is very strange here. There is something not right.”

  Mikey looked at Sam and Magda and held out his hands. Magda took the decision.

  “You might not believe this, Karla, and I apologize. Please don’t spread it around, but we have a sort of poltergeist. He gets angry. He took it out on you. I’m sorry again. I don’t know why he picked on you.”

  Karla looked from one to the other of them and then at her friend.

  “My Lord. I’ve heard about that sort of thing but never actually thought it happened.”

  Mikey nodded and said that Magda was telling the truth. “I think the wall will have to come down if it puts people in danger. Seemed like a good idea at the time.”

  “That’s a shame. We need a practice wall just to keep in shape,” Jeanette said. “Should we try it again?”

  “Really?” Magda exclaimed. Jeanette smiled and said she liked a challenge.

  “I’ll come up with you and we’ll rope up,” Mikey said, and the girls nodded. The other two women said they would try as well, and Mikey started up the wall with Jeanette. Nothing happened. He went up with the other two girls, and although they were nervous no wind blew at all.

  “Quite disappointed,” the other two girls admitted, and Karla said she would give it another try. As soon as she touched the first handholds, the breeze started to gently blow but they could feel it growing in force.

  “It’s Karla,” Josh said. “He’s worried about her.”

  “What?” Karla demanded. “How do you know that?”

  Josh said that he could feel the feeling in his head that whoever was out there was worried about her.

  “I just get these . . . sort of . . . feelings in my head. He’s sad, worried, and confused as well.”

  Magda intervened and suggested they all come into the café and have hot drinks.

  “Let’s talk in comfort.”

  Sam and Rula added their voices and the whole party went inside. Sam pushed some tables together and Rula went for drinks.

  Josh apologized for causing trouble, but Magda told him to stop worrying. He went back to work helping Rita and Katie. Magda came and sat at the table.

  “Would you like the whole story?” she asked, and all four women nodded and said they were curious.

  “And excited,” Jeanette added.

  “You weren’t the one getting blown off the wall,” Karla told her. “It’s a bit freaky to think a ghost is worried about you.”

  “I cannot believe,” Magda said, “how people just accept that we might have a ghost or a poltergeist. I worry away about not saying anything, and when I have to, nobody is bothered.”

  “My aunt believes in ghosts and watches all those television programs,” Jeanette answered, “but my uncle is a scientist and tells her that he needs proof and evidence and it is all in her imagination.”

  Rula added the information that the spirit, whoever he was, didn’t like certain things.

  “Like the tartan of the folk with the distillery. I guess he thinks it should still all belong to him and his family.”

  “The wind is warm and gentle when he’s happy and strong, and cold when he’s not,” Sam added, and Katie told them about Declan being able to see spirits sometimes.

  “He saw him and described him. That’s how we are pretty sure he’s a Viking,” Magda said and produced the drawings that Katie had done from his description.

  “You are really good at this. I love those pictures,” Karla told her and touched her hand to her cheek.

  “A warm breeze?” Sam asked, and she nodded.

  “That was him?”

  “I think,” Magda said quite loudly, “that I’ll get some Henderson tartan.” The cold breeze whipped around the room and subsided.

  “Wow,” one of the other girls said. “I see what you mean.”

  “I wish we could get him back to Scotland,” Magda said, “but can’t figure out how to do it.”

  “What about the pages in the book?” Mikey suggested. “My cats would be insulted if I took no notice of what they showed me.”

  Magda put the book on the table and looked around.

  “Show me,” she demanded out of thin air, and to all their amazement, a breeze fluttered the pages and she looked at the one that was left open. “Same one,” she said.

  “What does it say?” Jeanette asked, and Magda cast her eye over the story.

  “A legend of the area says that the Vikings made many raids; one in particular was very strong, and his woman was almost as effective as he was. They could scale the cliffs and castle walls and open up defenses to let the raiders inside.” She looked up with an expression of astonishment. “You don’t suppose that it could be Utric?”

  “Fascinating,” Jeanette said. “I must have the bug from Aunt Carrie. I wish I could see him.”

  Magda looked at the book again.

  “These Vikings were very striking. They were tall and strong with long, blond hair. They arrived in longboats rowed by twenty men and were armed with axes, shields, and spears. The speed of their boats was something to behold and brought them upon the local people with that element of surprise so crucial to raiding parties.”

  “Long blond hair?” Jeanette said and picked up her friend’s ponytail.

 
“You climb like his wife and have long, blonde hair,” Rula said. “Is it possible that he connects the two things?”

  “We could test it again,” Karla suggested and made Magda smile.

  “What about we do it after the café is closed and we bring Merle and Branston in as well?” Sam suggested. When they explained who Merle and Branston were, Karla and Jeanette said they were happy to come back and try it. The other two girls said they were welcome to it, and the four of them said thanks for the coffee and departed.

  “Call Declan as well,” Magda said to Sam, “and I will call Branston.” She laughed. “And despite pesky old Utric, I have to make truffles.”

  Branston put Merle on the cell phone and Magda related the story of the wall.

  “Can’t wait,” Merle said.

  14

  Magda and Katie worked like Trojans for the rest of the day and the chiller was satisfyingly full again.

  “We can box up tomorrow, but at least we have stock again,” Magda said.

  Katie added that she would bring over the pictures when she came back and it reminded Magda to ask Declan for more sculptures and pay him for the two that she had sold.

  “They are quite beautiful,” Katie said, looking at the two remaining on the shelf. They locked up and planned to meet at seven. Magda left the book behind. She did not want Crystal getting her clever paws on it again.

  When they arrived home they found cats to be contentedly cozy but they stretched out when dinner looked imminent. Sam and Magda grabbed a few quiet minutes as they ate their meal.

  “Come on then,” Sam said and offered a hand. “Let’s go and see this darn Viking again.”

  “Maybe he wants an invite to the wedding,” Magda smiled, and Sam took the opportunity to wrap his arms around her.

  “I don’t care who is there as long as we manage to get married.”

  As they made their way to the rock face, Mgada warned, “Don’t you dare climb on that wall, Sam Barnes.” The others arrived in twos and threes, and the two girl climbers were introduced to the ones they had not met before. Merle automatically took charge in these situations but said she liked to be able to see Declan.

  “It seems to work better together,” she told the rest. “Declan can let me know if he sees anything, and I can concentrate on trying to sense what is happening. If any of you feel like calling out just join in.”

  “Oh, my goodness,” Jeanette said to Merle. “My aunt will be so jealous that I met you. She would love to be here.”

  “Does she know who I am?” Merle asked in surprise. Jeanette smiled.

  “She’s so keen on all things to do with the spirit world, that her friends give her all sorts of news, and she heard that you helped the people at the woodyard.”

  “I didn’t do anything much really. Once the people there knew that the young man was upset, it sorted out the trouble for them,” Merle answered. “Give her my regards.”

  “Does she live far away from here?” Magda asked, and Jeanette said about five minutes. “Give her a call,” Magda added. Jeanette pulled out her phone and gabbled a quick explanation. Then she laughed and hung up.

  “On her way.”

  “We can decide what to do while she’s on her way over,” Merle said. “What do you want to do, Magda?”

  “Call out. See if he’s around and then let the climbers try the wall.”

  Mikey said he would go on the wall with all the climbers. Branston and Sam said they would stand underneath just in case.

  “I’m good at this,” Karla said. “I can stand a bit of wind.” Even as she said it, the breeze lifted her blonde hair.

  “He’s definitely around,” Merle remarked and Jeanette stood up to wave her aunt in to join everybody else.

  “Oh, this is so exciting,” Carrie Starling cried. “Thank you so much. I’ll never remember every single name, but thank you all.”

  The chairs were in a circle.

  “Take a seat folks,” Merle said, and they all sat holding hands. It was not lost on Magda and Katie, who glanced at each other with a smile, that Mikey had put himself beside Rula and was holding her hand before they were told what to do.

  Merle gave them a little bit of instruction and called out for some protection for all of them. Then she asked if Utric was with them. At the second time of asking, the breeze ran around the circle, and some of the hands tightened with a little excitement and also a little bit of trepidation.

  Merle looked at Declan and he nodded.

  “He’s in the corner watching,” Declan said quietly. One or two heads turned quickly but saw nothing.

  “Can you describe him, Declan, please?” Merle asked, and the man looked across at what he could see.

  “Big man. I think about six feet tall in real life. He has bare arms with metal bands on them and his long hair is light-colored and hanging loose. He has something tied across his chest—I am not sure what that is—and he has pants made of some sort of animal skin.”

  “Thanks,” Merle said. “I can feel that he’s waiting to see what we do.” She took a breath. “Utric, can you step forward and join us?” She looked at Magda, who never seemed to mind calling out.

  “Utric, we don’t want anyone blown off the rock wall,” said Magda. We want everyone to stay safe. Why did you make a storm when Karla climbed the wall?”

  “Make a noise if it was you that made the wind blow,” Merle added, and there was a pause before a bang sounded on the ground, causing most of the circle to either jump or gasp.

  Carrie Starling was entranced by this, and burst forth with: “Do that again please, Utric.” There was another bang and she beamed a huge smile. “Thank you, young man. That was wonderful.”

  “He’s standing beside you now, Carrie,” Declan said, and Merle asked her to call out and ask if her niece could climb the wall. Carrie Starling was not the least bit troubled by suddenly being the center of attention and talked to Utric as if he was her son or nephew and not a ghost from hundreds of years ago.

  “Young man, Utric,” she said loudly, “the girls are going to climb the wall and you have to behave yourself. It is an honor to meet you. I think you know that you have to be careful.”

  Merle nodded and said thanks and then went on to tell whoever was listening, that Jeanette would go first. Jeanette and Mikey started on the wall and the others stood up to watch.

  “Be careful, sweetheart,” Carrie said to her niece, but Jeanette just grinned and climbed up the face as quickly as Mikey. They were roped together for safety and the rope was fixed at the top. Mikey was taking no chances. As it happened, the two of them went up the wall without any trouble. There was no wind, and Declan said that Utric had just faded slightly and gone back to where he had been watching before.

  “Okay,” Karla said. “My turn.”

  Mikey roped up as before and Declan said that Utric had come forward again.

  “Right, big guy, I am climbing,” Karla said and started up the wall. Mikey went alongside and the wind started to blow. “Ready for you this time,” Karla muttered and went on climbing. The wind swirled but didn’t seem ferocious and the two of them reached the top unharmed.

  “He’s not quite sure about this,” Merle said. “Can you cover your hair and try again?”

  Karla grinned and borrowed Jeanette’s hat. She tucked in the blonde ponytail and started the climb again. Utric took no notice.

  “Well,” Merle said, “It must be the long blonde hair. There is something that makes him so sad when he sees a climber with the light hair.”

  “What about dyed blonde hair?” Rula asked. “I could go very far if I was roped to Mikey.” She shook her hair out loose, and Declan said that Utric had noticed what she did.

  “You only go a few handholds,” Mikey told her quite sternly.

  “Yes sir,” she grinned, and he hooked a harness around her. Sam and Branston stood ready to break her fall if necessary. “Never done this before but it looks possible,” Rula remarked and started to
look for the places to hold. Mikey pointed out to her which ones to take, and she managed to get to about six feet up the wall when the wind started to blow. Mikey took the tension from the hook at the top and held it tight. The wind increased and the idea didn’t seem like such a good one anymore.

  “You’re safe, Rula. You can’t fall,” Mikey told her.

  Carrie Starling put her hands on her hips.

  “Young man, stop that nonsense this instant.” The wind died away and Merle laughed.

  “You’ve met your match, Mr. Viking,” she said out loud. “Come down, Rula.”

  Branston held out his arms, and Mikey loosened the rope until she could be lowered onto the ground.

  “Try me again without the hat,” Karla suggested. They took one more try with loose blonde hair, and the wind swirled around again.

  “Utric,” Carrie Starling warned, and the wind dropped again. Karla came back down.

  “Looks like it is the loose blonde hair that does it,” she said.

  “Let’s just sit back in the circle,” Merle suggested and she closed her eyes.

  After a few seconds, she asked if Utric missed someone with long, blonde hair. Merle nodded to herself and asked if it was his wife. A tear trickled down her cheek and she told them that he was so sad that it was hard for him to even think about.

  “I think she fell from the cliffs. He hasn’t said that, but it’s the feeling I get from him when I ask about her.”

  “Did she fall from the cliffs in Scotland?” Magda asked, and Merle nodded.

  “No doubt about that,” Merle added.

  “Is she still in Scotland, my son?” Carrie asked and looked at Merle. She shook her head.

  “That is why he doesn’t want to go back,” Magda observed.

  “I think you are right,” Merle added. “But I don’t know what we can do to help.”

  Declan asked if Merle could find out her name, and she looked at him in surprise because he had been very quiet.

  “Have you seen something?” she asked.

  “Not seen anything, but I just feel that maybe there is something I should see but can’t,” he answered. Merle nodded and looked thoughtfully at Carrie.